As the initial panic settled, the crowd pressed forward in hushed, dramatic murmurs. Claire pushed herself up on one elbow, her eyes wide with rage and betrayal as she raised a trembling finger toward the balcony railing above. Jason, he pushed me! Claire shouted, her voice echoing clearly off the stone archways of the estate. The surrounding guests turned their gazes toward Jason, who stumbled back against the stone pillar, his jaw slack with sudden terror. Before he could stammer out a defense, the heavy wooden doors of the main estate swung open. A team of first responders rushed onto the terrace, led by a dedicated female paramedic in a navy uniform who immediately dropped to her knees beside the injured woman. The paramedic quickly assessed the situation, placing her gloved hands on Claire’s knee, which showed a painful, dark red scrape and deep bruising beneath the torn silk of her dress. Everyone is watching, the paramedic noted quietly under her breath, trying to keep Claire calm as the gathering crowd grew increasingly restless.